[EVALUATION] Q2

Synergy play a big part in for our project, by having synergy it meant that we was able to create a visual link between the music video, digipack and advertisement. By doing this it allows the target audience to be able to recognize Yasmin especially since she is a new and upcoming artist. 

[EVALUATION] Q3

[EVALUATION] Q1

[PRODUCTION] Editing photos on iPhone app 'VSCO'

As part of my experimental research I also decided to try and edit my photos on a iPhone app, VSCO. This app is a app that I personally use to edit my own images, which is why i chose to use it. The app allows you to edit your desired photos, so you can with change the exposure, temperature and contrast there is also is other features such a cropping tool as well as a sharpening tool. What I really liked about the app was that it has a series of filters that you can apply to your photo, I thought that the filters provided all had nice effects and when I was testing it out on my own photos I felt as though it worked really well. 

I experimented in different ways, trying out every editing feature that was provided by the app. I changed the image to a black and white style and then also did a colour version. I felt as though the original photos all had a funny lighting which is why I had to mess about with the exposure and temperature. As you can see from the screenshots these are the different types of edit I have done. I also edited the image that I have changed from photoshop as well. 
       

          

[PRODUCTION] EXPERIMENTING ON PHOTOSHOP

I spent a lot of time on photoshop trying to figure out how I want my digipack and advert to be, because of the screen grabs I knew I had to experiment with the pictures to make them as good as possible.

For the edit of my photos I have decided to do a multiple exposure type of theme. Double exposure is being able to apply either two or more either same or different kind of photos. In my case I have duplicated the same image into separate layers, changed the opacity for each layer and then mover about 3 cm of each layer to the left. This created a almost 3D kind of effect to the photo overall. I have also tried to do a invert style where one of the layers in particular is inverted making the image have a slight illumination outline. I felt that it fit well with album because the album was mean to portray a euphoria type of feel. I have also began to try out different style of fonts along with the picture to get a sense of what it could look like. As you can see from the screengrab this has slightly grey background to it and so I would have to get rid of it and make it why to keep the synergy between the music video and the digipack continuous. 

  

[REFLECTION] NOT BEING ABLE TO TAKE NEW PHOTOS

Sadly our plans to shoot some extra pictures for our digipak couldn't continue because after returning back to class after the christmas break, we found out that Nicole was, in a accident which was the reason why when we tried to contact her she'd never reply back. It was only when she came back to lesson which was when we knew of her situation, as we were already running out of time and we want to didn't push Nicole since she wasn't in a good state.

Luckily we took some picture beforehand when we went filming. But even though we already some photos already, when we went over to review them they weren't in good quality also there wasn't range of shots that we could all choose from this then meant that we has to screen grab pictures from our music video. We knew that this was also not the best thing to do but we felt that if the screen grabs were strong enough we could somehow transform it on photoshop. 

[RESEARCH] ANALYSING OTHER ARTIST'S WORK

[PRODUCTION] HOW I HAVE PLANNED MY DIGIPACK

Here is a written plan of my digipack, it includes how I want it but also an alternative if my initial doesn't work out. It explains the exactly how I want it from, the font style, font colour, layout, and the actual picture.

[RESEARCH] INTRODUCTION TO ACILLIARY WORK

Now that we have completed our music video assignment, the next part of the project is to create a digipak and magazine advertisement as part of the promotion for our artist. A digipak is essentially consist of a  CD cover, the actual CD itself and magazine advertisement of the CD. This time round our course work is based individually all on our own, even though we'll still be in our group all of our work that will be done has to based on our own efforts and ideas on how we want our digipack to be like. 

While in class we discussed the basic requirements that are need when creating our digipak and advert. For example a digipak can have different types of templates that you can choose from, 3 panel or 2 panel. Also when creating the digipack we have to follow a certain type of theme so that it fits into our particular genre type but importantly the artist. A good thing that you could look for is creating synergy between your music video and the digipak. In our music video we have used a white studio as our main basetrack so we could follow theme onto the digipak and shoot pictures in the same style. We also use smoke grenades, which gave of a very beautiful effect, so again we could also cooperate that into the digipak.

As well as making sure the visuals are all on perfect, we have to keep in mind of the minor details which help make the digipak and advert come together. For instant the digipak will require a colour scheme and font style theme. The colour scheme has to be no more than three colours and must consistently used through the digipak and advertisement, once you choose the colours you want to use them you must stick to those choices. This why you must choose colours that will go well with your overall theme. Again for the font style there is no more than two font style choice that you can have. You can choose what ever font you like but it has to work well with your theme. The fonts will not only help represent your artist but allow the audience to recognise your artist so it's important to chose the right style. 
The minor details that you should look our for are, on a digipack there is a very thin spine that has your artist name, their album name and a code. This code is used through all digipaks and so you must ensure that you have one. Don't forget you add a barcode, copyrights logo, the record label, and a album stick. 

[PRODUCTION] - FINAL VIDEO

Yasmin Ally - High For This

28. Chenny, Nahida, Nicole, Yashima from 283goswell on Vimeo.

[PRODUCTION & PLANNING] Being spontanous

From the first day of filming, we were very spontaneous about our decisions that we made. Even though we create a storyboard, we honestly didn't follow the story board. We only followed our story board on the first and second day of filming. The decisions we made were based on how we felt about the current footage he have so far and how what can we do now that would be efficient and easily accessible. So in this case there were times when for example on the second day of filming, we passed the thames, but on that day we didn't plan to film there but because of the good view and great weather, we all felt that we should film some shots of the location.

For a lot of video there we're a lot of things that we didn't plan but I guess it made our music video better because, at the beginning of the filming stages I personally didn't have a proper vision on how I wanted the music video to be but as we began filming more and more, I began to see how I wanted things to work and so whenever I felt something could be fit into the video I then thought we should try and incorporate it in.

[PRODUCTION] - FINALLY FINISHED MUSIC VIDEO

FINALLY FINISHED MUSIC VIDEO

[PLANNING] On the hunt for a black studio

On the Hunt for a Black Studio 

After our last lesson on Friday, we submitted our rough cut and received feedback from Louisa. During that lesson me and Nicole went and did more filming for the music video as we needed to shoot some more shot. We initially wanted to find a black room as when we planned the music video we wanted to be in contrast with our white studio room that we had already filmed in. We used a class room in the college which has black curtains, we thought that it would be okay and would work with the footage we already got, but when we when reviewed the footage we could all see that the quality standard was not compared to what we filmed in the white studio. The lighting in classroom was far too yellow and grainy So we took into consideration to try find a black studio, even though it wasn't decided for definite whether we would need a black studio or not because our rough cut wasn't completed at the time. 

So as I took the responsibility to book the white studio room in Bethnal Green, I also took charge and said that I would try and to find a black studio. I again contacted Studio Space again, as they were the only studio I knew at that time which had a black studio. 

I received a reply, so now we just need to review the rough cut again, which can't determine whether we are going to re film or not. 

[PLANNING] Finding New Location

[PLANNING] Studio Location

[PRODUCTION] - Rough Cut Feedback

Rough Cut Feedback

Chenny and I (Nahida) were very stressed with what we had and were not happy with it. We felt as though we needed to reshoot some shots to make them stronger and pull the whole video together. However after the rough cut feedback we feel a little bit less stressed with it all. I think the comments were pretty good and the feedback we could definitely work on. 

Response to Feedback:

• There was a red tint on one clip however that was us experimenting on how we can fix our problem with the out of focus shots. The audience liked this, but we are still unsure on whether we want to add it in as it didn't really help with our out of focus shots. *If we do decide to use it, to make it more often.*
• Strengthen our chorus - so we could have the outside shots with the each smoke shot. 
• Change one of the sofa shots as the leg acts as a barrier
• Change some of the shots at the beginning to work around the focus shots - We've watched through all the footage with Louisa and identified which ones were out of focus and which ones we could use.
• Use the lamppost shots in reverse as well.
• Change the hair flick shot - either slow mo it to fit or have it on a beat
• One of the last Woaah oohh Shots out of sync so fix it up. 

So much to do but I think we can pull it off. 

[PRODUCTION] - Rough Cut 2

Rough Cut 2

[PLANNING] Prop - Smoke Grenade

As said in our pitch, we wanted to incorporate a smoke effects into our music video (inspired by Tove Lo - Not On Drugs) so I began applying some research to find out where and how I could find something which is able to achieve the effect that we wanted. Trying to find something which had this type of effect was really difficult as the none of the members of the group knew where or how to find it. I also assumed that the college wouldn't have anything that could really help up.

I first came across some images on Tumblr showing photography projects which had the same style of smoke effect that I was looking for. From the photos, it showed that the people in the photos were holding a cylinder tube which the smoke comes our from and I slowly found out that they were called smoke grenades. The photos shows that it was safe to be in human contact with the smoke grenades and that it wouldn't harmful if anyone of us were to use the smoke. As you can see from the photos the smoke comes in different colours and comes our very clearly and gives of a very beautiful and euphoric effect which is exactly what we wanted to achieve in out music video.

























I didn't have any clue if there was any store in London which sold these smoke grenades so I began searching, I mostly found online websites like eBay, Amazon and www.airsoftworld.net but I didn't want to risk waiting for delivery to come through especially since we were on a tight schedule with our filming already. I soon came across website www.wolfarmouries.co.uk, the website states that it sold the smoke grenades which were only available to be sold in store, and when looking further into the website I figure out that they were based in Camden, London. This was perfect as I could personally go to Camden and buy the smoke grenades.

So planned a date to go and buy the smoke grenades which I then bought and tried out myself before I let the team used it. I wanted to see how long it would last for and how well the smoke came out on camera but also what colour worked best. When I was trying it out, something I learnt that the people in the shop never told me was that the grenades gave off a very strong smell when it is set off and that it last for 90 seconds which sound very short however when I was shooting I found out that actually it is a very long time in terms of filming and shooting. If used continuously it can definitely make you a little nauseous and also as you have to hold it for the whole 90 seconds, the longer you hold it the hotter it will get but luckily its isn't hot to a point where it's burning you, just still quite hot. Other things are the wired trigger that you pull to release the smoke it very difficult to pull, the wire is very thin and if not pulling it the correct way it can snap which then won't work anymore, this happened to me once when trying our the grenades, I was meant to pull towards me but I ended pulling it away which then caused it to snap. All of those things were the downfall of the smoke grenades but apart from those minor things the smoke grenade overall give off a really cool effect, works and looks great on camera. Here are some text shoots that of when I tried out the smoke grenades.

Re-filming

In a recent editing session we discovered some problems that we was unaware of before.

Whilst looking over some of our footage it had come to our attention that some of the shots were out of focus which wouldn't be such a big problem if these weren't the main shots that hold the whole video together. This is a bit of a  problem as we're nearing the deadline for our finish project but have only discovered this problem this week.

Tomorrow our group will attempt to re-film some of the unfocused shots and maybe 1 or 2 more base tracks in order to give us more options and ideas whilst editing.

[PLANNING] - Test Shots for Digipak

Test Shots for Digipak

While at the studio (20.11.2014) we thought we'd try to get some shots of Yasmin Ally for the digipak. Here are some samples that we could consider.